Apparatus for washing clothes



Aug. 29, 195.0

J. B. KIRBY APPARATUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES Filed March 13, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS 2,52ib366v Aug. 29, 1950 J. B. KIRBY APPARATUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed llarch 13, 1944 INVENTOR Jams B Kirby WM, fha@ ArroRNE-Ys Aug. 29, 1950 JQ B. KIRBY Y APPARATUS Fon WASHING cLo'mEs Filed Harsh 13, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN'YOR James B. Kirby All@ 29, '1950 J. B. KIRBY 2,520,366

Y APPARMUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES Filed Ilrch 13, 1944 l 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTO Fi 1 James' B. Kirby ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 29, 1950 APPARATUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES James B. Kirby, West Richfield, Ohio, assignor to The Apex Electrical Manufacturing Co., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio, as trustee Application March 13, 1944, Serial No. 526,154

('Cl. |(S8-148) 1 Claim.

This invention relates to apparatus for Washing clothes and more particularly an apparatus for controlling the fresh water supply in a domestic washing machine of the single tub washer-extractor type.

It is an object of the invention to provide a washing machine having a receptacle wherein the clothes are washed and centrifugally dried with means for introducing a fresh water supply and for recirculating the water supply during the laundry operations.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine, according to the preceding object, wherein the admission of fresh water supply is controlled by means operatively associated with apparatus for recirculating the Wash Water supply.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a washing machine with apparatus for controlling the fresh water supply and recirculating the wash water, wherein the admission of fresh Water is interrupted by recirculation of the wash water.

Generally speaking the foregoing objects have been attained according to the present invention, by the use of a fresh water su-pply conduit having a normally open valve so arranged that the fresh water supply is directed into the receptacle employed for washing the clothes. A tubis arranged beneath the receptacle to collect water removed from the receptacle during washing, and such collected water is recirculated by a pump so as to discharge the recirculated water into the top of the container. The recirculation conduit is provided with a pressure sensitive element operatively connected to the normally o-pen valve in the fresh water supply. When recirculated wash water is being directed into the top of the washing receptacle the pressure sensitive element acts to close the valve in the fresh water supply line. It is characteristic of the apparatus of this invention, that the admission of fresh water is unaffected by variations in pressure in the domestic water supply. This arrangement insures the provision of the proper amount of water for washing Without regard to the pressure at which the water is admitted into the machine and without regard to the time required to admit such a supply of water.

With the above and other objects in view the invention may be said to comprise the apparatus for washing clothes as illustrated in the accompanying drawings hereinafter described and particularly Set forth in the claim together with such variations and modifications thereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. Certain feature-s of my invention disclosed herein but not claimed in the present application are claimed in my application, Serial No. 619,849, iiled October 2, 1945.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification in which:

Figure 1 is a central vertical section through a combined washer and extractor embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line indicated at 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line indicated at 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical axial section through the receptacle supporting standard showing the receptacle drive mechanism on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view taken as indicated by line 5-5 in Fig. 4;

Figs. 6 and 7 are top plan view and side elevation respectively of one of the washer vanes;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the machine with a portion broken away to show part of the housing and washing receptacle in section;

Fig. 9 is an elevational view taken as indicated by line 9-9 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectiontaken on the line indicated at lll-I0 in Fig. 8; and

Fig. 11 is a section taken on the line indicated at II--II in Fig. 2.

In the accompanying drawings a machine designed to carry out the present invention is illustrated. In washing clothes by means o`f the present invention, the clothes are placed in a suitable container of the extractor type ndicated generally by the reference character A which is mounted for rotational movement about a central axis a and also for an orbital movement in which the axis a of the container moves in an orbital path about an axis b that is out of alinement with the axis a. The axis a is so disposed with respect to the axis b that the orbital movement of the container is of small ambit, and the axis a is preferably at an angle to the axis b so that the receptacle rocks during its orbital movement. As herein shown the axis of rotation a intersects the orbital axis b at a small angle, the pointof intersection preferably being near the center of gravity of the receptacle when loaded so as to maintain both a static and running balance and thereby minimize the vibratory effect of the orbital movement. The

washing operation is performed by placing the clothes with water in the receptacle A and imparting orbital movement to the container aboutA Athe axis b whilethe container is held against ceptacle to maintain the proper amount of water l in the receptacle for the washing operation.

The speed `of orbital movement during the washing operation corresponds to the speed of rotation for extraction and is preferably at least 600 R. P. M. With an orbital movement at such high speeds some portions of the receptacle bottom are at every instant moving in a downward direction faster than the water and clothes can fall by gravity and other portions are moving up to slap against the falling body of Water and clothes so that the mass of water and clothes is subjected to rapidly repeated pulsations at all points throughout the extent thereof.

The orbital movement of the receptacle tends to cause the liquid in the receptacle to flow circumferentially in the direction of orbital movement. This flow of the liquid is impeded'by suitable vanes on the peripheral wall of the receptacle which engage with clothes and water and have a rubbing action against the clothes during their movements in the receptacle. The receptacle actuating mechanism is so disposed that the orbital movement is imparted to the receptacle while it is being held against rotation about its axis a. When the receptacle is released the torque thatl isimposed thereon by the orbital movement serves to rotate the receptacle about its axis and to accelerate the rotational movement uniformly so that the receptacle is `brought to extracting speed without strain on the driving mechanism.

During the washing operation the clothes move outwardly along the bottom to the peripheral Wall of the receptacle and simultaneously progress around the receptacle circumferentially. The engagement of the clothes with the vanes on the laterally and vertically rocking peripheral Wall causes them to work their way up the wall and then to move baci; over the top of the body of Water and clothes toward the center of the receptacle during their travel about the orbital. axis. The rocking orbital movement imparted to the Washing receptacle is Very rapid and serves to effectively distribute the clothes throughout the body or" Water in the receptacle and subjects the clothes to continuous agitation and rubbing action against the peripheral vanes.

In 'the machine herein illustrated the housing B is of rectangular` form and has a top t provided With a central opening closed by a suitable lid 2, the tub C being supported within the housing on suitable brackets 3. The tub C extends to the top of the receptacle and has an inturned splash flange 4 at its upper edge. The tub C has a central upright tubular wall 5 and is provided in its bottom with a segmental motor receiving recess 6, The combined washing and extracting receptacle A is mounted within the upper portion of the tub C, being supported upon the upper end of a tubular standard 1 that is mounted Within the interior tubular wall 5 of the tub. The standard 1 is supported centrally of the housing by four supporting legs 8 extending radially and ldownwardly beneath the tub C to the bottom of the housing at the four corners thereof Where suitable nuts 9 on threaded foot c 4 i members I0 provideadjustable supports for the housing'B. The. inner nds ofthe supporting legs 8 are attached to a central ring II which serves as a support for the standard 1.

The ring II is formedwith an upright cylindrical body member I2 within which the lower end of the standard 1 is mounted, the member I2 having an inwardly extending supporting flange I3 at its lower end. The lower end of the standard 1 is positioned within the inner margin of the inwardly extending flange I3 and iltting upon the lower end of the tubular standard 1 there isa washer Il which rests upon the ange I3. Upon the washer I4 there is mounted a rubber ring I5 which is preferably of rectangular cross .section and which lits upon the exterior of the standard 9 and within the interior of the cylindrical body III of the supporting ring. Upon the top of the rubber ring I5 there is mounted a washer I5 which has an .internal diameter greater than the diameter of the tubular standard 1 and an external diameter such that it fits within the cylindrical member I 2 of the supporting ring. The `standard 1 has a peripheral ange I1 that rests upon the top face of the Washer I6, and on the top face of the flange I1 there is mounted a second washer ,I8 which may be a duplicate of the4 washer I6. A rubber ring I9, similar to the ring I5, is mounted upon the top of the washer I8 and a washer 20, which may be a duplicate of the washer Il, is mounted-upon the top of the rubber ring I9. A clamping ring 2i is mounted upon the upper end of the member S2 and has a shouldered inner portion 22 that'nts within the upper end of the cylindrical member i2 and bears against the washer 2d. The clamping ring 2i is held in place -by bolts 23 that secure the same to the ring II. The tubular standard 9 is thus resiliently supported in the ring Ii by means of the rubber rings i5 and i9 and these rings are held securely in place by the conning washers I4, I6, I8 and 2li which prevent the corners of the soft rubber rings from being :pinched between the standard and supporting ring. The standard 1 vmay have a resilient buier ring 1a mounted thereon which is engageable with the interior of the tubular wall 5 of the tub to limit lateral movements of the standard. The resilient mounting permits the standard 1 to have slight vertical and lateral movements with respect to the supporting frame, the resilient cushioning support and buffer serving as a damping means to check the transmission of vibrations to the supporting frame.

At the upper end thereof the standard 1 has a heavy collar 24 upon which is mounted a self alining ball bearing 25 Ythat has an outer race ring 26 mounted in the collar 24 and an inner race ring 21 that is secured to a tubular shaft 28 positioned Within the tubular standand 1, the inner race ring 21 being seated against the underside of an enlarged head 29 at the upper end of the tubular shaft 28. The inertia of thecollar 24 tends to impede lateral vibrations of the standard 1.

The enlarged head 29 of the shaft 28 provides a support for a second ball bearing 30 that is mounted at a slight inclination to the ball bearing 25. The ball bearing 30 has an outer race ring 3I that is seated in the enlarged head 29 of the shaft and held in place therein by a clamping collar 32 that is threaded upon the upper end of the head 29. The bearing 30 has an inner race ring 33 that is secured to a supporting block 34, the block 34 having a projecting flange 35 at its lower end upon which the race ring 33 is seated and the race ring 33 being clamped against the flange 36 by means of a circular flange 36 on a plate 31 that is attached to the central bottom member 38 of the receptacle A. A plurality of attaching screws 39 extend through the member 38 and plate 31 and are threaded into the block 34 to secure the receptacle to the block 34 and to clamp the race ring 33 against the flange 35 of the block. A dome-shaped shield 40 is mounted upon the bottom member 38 and covers the screws 33, the shield 48 being held in place by means of a center bolt 4l that is threaded into the block 34 at its lower end. The ball bearing 30 serves to rotatably support the receptacle A, the axis of the bearing being the axis a about which the receptacle may rotate and the axis of the tubular shaft 28 being the axis b about which the/receptacle may move orbitally. vThe angle of inclination of the axis a with respect to the axis b is mall. In the machine illustrated the angle is about four and one-half degrees. It is to be understood however that greater or` less angularity may be desirable for machines of smaller or larger size or for machines operated at lower or higher speeds.

The tubular shaft 28 has a pulley 42 attached to its lower end, the pulley 42 being positioned beneath the lower end of the standard 9 and having a threaded hub portion 43 screwed into the lower end of the tubular shaft 28. The pulley 42 and shaft 28 are driven by suitable belt 44 that extends around the pulley 42, around a second driven pulley 45 and around a driving pulley 46 on the shaft of an electric motor 41. The shaft 28 is driven by the motor 41 at a speed at which the receptacle may be advantageously driven for the extracting operation. For extracting, the speed should be above 400 R. P. M., a speed of about 600 R. P. M. is preferred.

The motor 41 is adjustably mounted so that proper tension may be maintained upon the driving belt 44, the motor casing being provided with vertically spaced lugs 48 that receive between them an arm 50 formed integrally with one of the supporting legs I0, the lugs 48 being secured to the arm 50 by means of a vertical pivot pin 5l about which the motor may be swung to tension the belt. Any suitable means may be provided for holding the motor in adjusted position. As herein shown the motor casing has a lug 52 on the side thereof diametrically opposite the lugs 48 and 49, to which is pivotally attached a link 53 that is adapted to be adjustably secured to one of the supporting legs 8 to hold the motor in adjusted position, the link 53 being provided with a longitudinal slot 54 that receives a clamping bolt 55 that is screwed into the supporting leg 8.

Within the tubular shaft 28 there is mounted a shaft 56 which has an upper ball shaped end 51 that is received in a tubular projection 58 on the under side of the block 34. A pin 59 extends transversely through the ball-shaped end 51 and projects into vertical slots 60 formed in the socket 58, the ball socket and pin providing a flexible driving connection between the washing receptacle and the shaft 56. The shaft 56 has a ball-shaped lower end 6I that is located a short distance above the hub 43 of the driving pulley, the ball 6I tting into an enlarged socket 62 in the upper end of a vertical lower shaft section 63 which extends downwardly through the pulley 42.

A pin 64 extends through the ball end 6| andh engages in vertical slots 65 in the socket 62, the

ball socket and pin forming a flexible connection between the upper and lower shaft sections 56 and 63. An oilless bearing sleeve 68 is interposed between the shaft section 63 and the hub 43 of the driving pulley and to the lower end of the shaft section 63 there is attached a brake drum 61. The drum 61 has a hub68 keyed to the shaft 63 and mounted in a self-alining bearing 69 that has an inner race ring 16 secured to the hub 68 and an outer race ring 1I mounted in a tubular flange 12 of a lower housing plate 13 that is cupped to enclose the brake drum 61 and provided with a peripheral flange 14 underlying the ring Il. The plate 13 is suspended from the ring Il by means of bolts 15 and held in proper spaced relation with respect to the ring Il, by means of spacing sleeves 16 mounted on the bolts 15 and interposed between the plate 14 and the ring il.

To insure proper alinement of the shaft 63 with the driving pulley 42 and the shaft 28, an additional ball bearing 11 is interposed between the lower end of the hub 43 and shaft 63. The mounting of the shaft section 63 in the hub of the pulley 42 maintains the shaft section 63 in axial alinement with the shaft 28 and the bearing 69 will permit the tubular shaft 2li and the sectional shaft mounted therein to rock slightly with respect to the supporting frame. Only slight vibratory rocking movements of the shafts and standard occur during operation of the machine and the amplitude of these movements is not suflcient to interfere with the operation of the driving belt.

During the washing operation the washing receptacle A is held against rotation and rotation of the shaft 28 causes the washing receptacle A to have an orbital rocking movement about the intersection of its axis a with the vertical axis b such that each point in the receptacle wall moves in an o'rbit of small circumference or ambit.

Points in the receptacle wall lying in a, plane normal to the axis a at the intersection of said axis a with the vertical axis b will reciprocate vertically in an arc having its center at said point of intersection. The orbital center where the axes a, and b intersect is located at a point above the bottom of the receptacle and below the top thereof. The orbital movement of the receptacle and the action of gravity upon the water causes a circumferential flow of water in the receptacle and the rapid oscillatory impulses serve to keep the clothes uniformly dispersed and distributed throughout the receptacle during washing. The speed of vertical oscillation is such that downward movements are faster than the movement of the water due tov gravity so that the bottom of the receptacle slaps against the bodyof water and creates rapidly repeated pulsations throughout the body of clothes and washing fluid that causes the fabrics to be continually flexed while the washing fluid surges through the interstices thereof.

For holding the shaft 56 and the receptacle A against rotation, a brake band T8 surrounding the brake drum 61 has one of its ends anchored to the supporting plate 13 and its opposite end attached to an actuating lever 19 which swings on a vertical pivot 80. When the brake band 18 is applied, the brake drum 61 and the receptacle A connected to the drum through the shaft 56 is held against rotation so that an orbital rocking movement only is imparted to the receptacle A. When the brake band 18 is released, the shaft 56 and receptacle A are free to rotate and, upon release of the brake, the torsional thrust 7 exerted by the shaft 28 on the receptacle causes the receptacle to rotate with gradually increasing speed. With the shaft 28 driven at 600 R. P. M. the washing receptacle will attain a speed somewhat'above 350B. P. M. due to the torque applied to the container through the inclined bearing 30. For more effectiveextraction of liquid it is desirable that the receptacle be rotated at the full speed of the shaft 28 and to accomplish this result a suitable clutch mechanism is` provided which serves to establish a direct driving connection between the receptacle and the shaft 28 to rotate the receptacle at full speed. The clutch mechanism is preferably automatic and controlled by the driven receptacle to operate when a predetermined speed of rotation is attained by the receptacle. As herein shown the pulley 42 is provided with a depending cylindrical flange 8| which serves as a clutch element and the upper face of the brake drum 61 is provided inwardly of the flange 8| with bosses 1 82 in which are mounted pivot pins 83 upon which clutch shoes 84 are mounted to swing into and out of engagement with the interior of the flange 8. Each of the clutch shoes 84 is normally held in retracted position with respect to the flange 8| by means of a coil spring 85 which is attached to one end to a lug 86 on the clutch shoe and at its other end to a post 81 attached to the brake drum 61. When the brake drum 61, which rotates with the receptacle A, attains a predetermined speed of rotation, the centrifugal force acting upon the clutch shoes 84 presses the shoes outwardly against the interior surface of the clutch element 8| so that torsional force is exerted upon the drum 61 and receptacle A. While the shoes 84 may permit some slippage when first engaged with the flange 8|, the pressure of the shoes against the flange 8| is increased as the speed of the receptacle increases so that the receptacle is frictionally clutched to the rotating shaft 28 to transmit additional torque from the drive shaft.

The bottom member 38 of the receptacle A provides a support for the receptacle above its bottom and has a tubular wall 88 that encloses the upper end portions of the standard 1 and shafts 28 and 56. At its lower end the wall 88 terminates in an outwardly flaring downwardly inclined portion 89 to which the outer portion of the receptacle body is attached. The central plate 38 may be of relatively rigid construction but the body portion of the receptacle is preferably made of relatively light sheet metal such as sheet aluminum. The body portion of the receptacle has a lower section 90 that forms the outer portion of the receptacle bottom and which has a peripheral Wall portion 9| that forms substantially the lower half of the peripheral wall of the receptacle. An upper section 92 attached to the top edge of the wall portion 9| forms the upper half of the receptacle wall, the upper section 92 being curved inwardly and terminating in a bead 93 that surrounds a central opening at the top of the receptacle that underliesv the central opening in the top of the housing. The lower section 90 of the receptacle wall has a plurality of small drain openings 94 in the bottom through which solid particles settling to the bot? tom of the receptacle are flushed during operation of the machine and a few perforations 94a in the side wall. The upper section 92 of the receptacle wall is, however, provided with more closely spaced perforations 95 through which suds may drain during the washing operations .8 and through which liquid may be forced d the extracting operation.

The inclined bearing provides a drive connection between the shaft 28 and the receptacle A which is adapted to slip when there is a resistance to rotation of the receptacle. ,The torque transmitted from the shaft 28 through the inclined bearing 30 tends to cause the receptacle to turn bodily with the shaft 28. Whenever the resistance to rotation of the receptacle with the shaft 28 is sufficient to cause the receptacle to lag with respect to the shaft, the shaft begins to turn within the bearing 30 and the receptacle begins its .pulsating movement. If the resistance to turning movement of the receptacle is sufficient it will be held against rotation and will move orbitally with the inclined bearing 30. If the resistance to rotation is less than that necessary to hold the receptacle against rotation the receptacle will turn about the axis b at a speed slower than the shaft 28 and will have simultaneously a rocking orbital movement. The receptacle A acts as a weighted member or flywheel mounted for rotation about either the axis a or the axis b or simultaneously about both axes, 'I'he inertia in starting will cause the speed of rotation about the axisl b to be slow at the start and to gradually increase while the speed of oscillation decreases. A drive is thus provided, in which there is an automatically regulated application of torque.

Within the receptacle A, a. series of elongated vanes 96 are detachably secured to the peripheral wall and short vanes 86a may be provided in the receptacle bottom, successive vanes 96a being preferably oppositely inclined. These vanes are preferably hollow and V-shaped in cross section. It has been found that the vanes 96 are most effective if disposed at an inclination. In the machine shown the rotation of the machine is counterclockwise and the vanes 96 are dispOsed at an inclination of approximately 38 with their upper ends in advance of their lower ends in the direction of rotation. It should be noted that the vane 96 extends above and below the normal plane above referred to which intersects the axes a and b at their point of intersection which is the center of orbital movement. By reason of their location on the peripheral wall of the receptacle, the vanes 96 have a compound oscillating movement. The oscillating vanes serve to 'greatly increase the agitation of the clothes and washing uid and have a very effective flexing and scrubbing action upon the clothes. A complete oscillating movement is imparted to each vane upon each revolution of the shaft 28, and, since this shaft is rotated at a high speed such as 600 R. P.Y M., the oscillation of the' vanes is extremely rapid. The effect upon the water and clothes during operation is to cause the clothes to move out to the peripheral wall of the receptacle to work up the vanes and to be moved inwardly towardl the axis, the movement of the clothes during the Washing operation being circumferentially and spirally in the receptacle.

To maintain the proper amount of liquid in the washing receptacle, means is provided for pumping water from the tub into the receptacle during the washing operation. As best shown in Fig. 3 the tub has an outlet 91 in its bottom. that delivers into the central inlet of a suitable centrifugal pump 88 that is driven by the pulley 45 and that delivers the liquid through a flexible conduit 99 to a spout |88 positioned to deliver water into the open top of the receptacle A. A

fresh waterl delivery pipe is mounted in the housing B and is adapted to be connected through a suitable hose to a water supply line. 'I'he delivery of water through the pipe |0| is controlled by a hand operated valve |02 and by a second normally open valve. |03 that is so connected to a suitable solenoid |04 that it will be closed when the solenoid is energized. The solenoid |04 is controlled by a switch |05 that is operated by a Sylphon |05 connected to the spout |00. The spout |00 has a restricted outlet |01 so that when a full stream of water is delivered through the spout |00, there will be sufficient back pressure on the Sylphon |06 to move the switch |05 to closed position. When the switch |05 is closed by the Sylphon |06 the solenoid |04 is operated to close the valve |03 and stop the delivery of fresh water to the receptacle.

When the machine is started the valve |02 is opened to deliver water to the receptacle A and the motor 41 is started into operation to spin the receptacle. When sufficient water accumulates in the tub C to enable the pump 9B to deliver a full stream through the conduit 99 and spout |00 the switch |05 is closed by the Sylphon |00 and the delivery of fresh water is automatically stopped. In this way the proper amount of water for effective washing is supplied to the machine. If the amount of water originally delivered to the machine is not sufficient to maintain a full flow through the spout |00, reduction of pressure on the Sylphon |00 will permit the valve |03 to open momentarily to supply additional Water.

A drain conduit |08 is also connected to the outlet of the pump 98 and this conduit is provided with a valve |09 that is operated by an arm ||0 on a vertical shaft that extends to the top of the housing and which is provided with a suitable handle ||2 at the top of the housing by means of which it may be turned to open or close the drain outlet. In order to insure that the valve will be held either in the full open or in the full closed position, the handle ||2 may have yielding engagement with the curved top of a latch plate ||3 that bridges the space between the full open and full closed positions. The drain outlet |08 communicates with both the tub C and the 'delivery conduit 99 so that the conduit 99 and the spout |00 as well as the tub is drained when the drain valve is opened. The pump 98 rapidly discharges water from the tub through the drain outlet if the valve |09 is opened while the machine is in operation. If the valve is opened when the motor is stopped, the pump, being a conventional centrifugal pump, will permit drainage between its vanes.

The spout |00 is mounted upon the upper end of the conduit 99 to turn from. a position in which it delivers water into the receptacle A to a position at which it delivers the water back into the tub C outside the periphery of the receptacle A. The spout |00 may be mounted in any suitable wayto swing through the necessary angle. As herein shown, the spout |00 is attached to the upper end of a vertically disposed rotatable shaft H4 and also rotates on a centering pivot ||5 attached to the top of the housing in axial' alinement with the shaft |4. The shaft ||4 has an arm ||6 at its lower end adjacent the bottom of the housing and the arm IIE is connected to a link ||1 which has a curved end ||8 pivoted to an arm ||9 attached to a vertical operating shaft |20. 'I'he operating shaft |20 has a second arm |2| attached thereto to which is pivoted a link I 22 that has a curved end |23 attached to the arm |2|, the link |22 serving to connect the shaft |20 with the brake operating lever 19. The link |22 is preferably extensible being formed of sections being connected by bolts |24 extending through longitudinal slots |25. The links ||1 and |22 and arms: H9 and |2| are so arranged that the shaft |20 has a limited rotational movement. Turning movement of the shaft |20 in one direction is Alimited by the link |22 and in the other direction by the link Ill. The shaft |20 extends tothe top of the housing and has a handle |26 by which it may be turned to actuate the brake band 18 andthe spout |00. When the handle |20-,is turned to a position to engage the brake ban'd'l with the brake drum 61, the spout |00 is moved to a position to deliver water in-to the receptacle A. When the handle |26 isturned to the; opposite position to release the brake band 18' and permit rotation of the receptacle A, the spout |00 isautomatically swung to a position to deliver water back into the tub beyond the periphery of the receptacle A.

Although the operation of the machine may be varied the preferred procedure will. now be described. The clothes are placed in the washing receptacle, the lever I2 is moved to drain closing position, the lever |26 is moved to brake releasing position and the motor 41 is started into operation. The valve |02 is then opened to admit water to the receptacle A through the delivery pipe |0I. Operation of the motor 4l with the brake 18 released causes the receptacle A to spin while the clothes are being saturated with the wash water. When suicient water accumulates to the tub to enable the pump 98 to deliver a full stream through the spout |50, the valve |02 is automatically closed to stop the delivery of u water to the machine.

By delivering the wash water to the machine while the receptacle is free to spin, the clothes are given a preliminary rinsing and the proper volume of washing fluid supplied to the clothes in the receptacle while the receptacle is free to rock or spin.

It should be noted that the automatic control of the delivery of water to the machine is in part dependent on the quantity of clothes in the machine, since the water required to saturate the clothes is retained in the receptacle A while suiiicient water is accumulating in the tub C to permit a full stream to be delivered through the spout |00.

When the proper amount of liquid has been supplied to the machine and the delivery of water is stopped the lever |26 is shifted to washing position, setting the brake 18 to hold the receptacle against rotation and shifting the spout |00 to a position to deliver into the receptacle A. Soap powder is preferably placed in the receptacle A at this time and the washing operation is continued for a time suihcient to elfect the cleaning of the clothes. Because of the extreme rapidity of the pulsations to which the clothes and washing iiuid are subjected a very short period of time is required for the washing operation.

At the end of the washing period the valve |02 is closed, the lever ||2 is shifted to drain opening position and lever |25 is shifted to extracting position in which the brake 18 is released and the receptacle A is allowed to spin. After a short period of extracting the valve |02 is opened to turn on the water supply. The water passing through the clothes in the spinning receptacle and out through the drain will quickly `the lever |26 is moved to washing position and the clothes are subjected to a wash rinse for a short period of time. The lever ||2 is then moved to drain opening position While the valve |02 is left for a short time to provide a nal spin rinse. The valve |02 is then closed and the continued spinning of the receptacle extracts the water from the clothes.

The operation of the controls in the machine of the present invention is extremely simple, and, while the main control elements as herein illustrated are manual, it is apparent that the control devices shown are well adapted for automatic operation by suitable timing devices well known in the art.

It has been found that a full sized machine constructed substantially like that herein illustrated, having a diameter of about 22 inches, a depth of about l inches, and mounted to oscillate through an angle of about 9 degrees, eciently washes eight pounds of clothes when pulsated at the rate of 600 times per minute. In this machine ten of the ribs or vanes 96 are provided and these vanes are inclined upwardly at about 38 in the direction of the rotation of the tubular operating shaft 28. The tubular shaft 28 is rotated counterclockwise at about 600 R. P. M. and the resultant pulsations` cause the clothes to move outwardly from the hub of the container along the bottom, up the outer wall, back toward the center of the container and thence downwardly at the hub. In addition to the roll over movement above described the body of the clothes and washing fluid moves circumferentially in a counterclockwise direction in the receptacle so that the clothes move in a generally spiral path while they are being subjected to the pulsations of the washing fluid and the rapid rubbing and flexing action of the oscillating vanes 86.

Although the speed of operation of the machine renders it dicult or impossible to determine with exactness what takes place during washing, I believe that during the successive tilting of the receptacle the bottom thereof moves downwardly at arate exceeding the rate at which the clothes and water fall freely due to gravity. I am aware that such rapid downward movement may create a vacuum and thus tend to pull the water and clothes downwardly. Thus there may result a rapid pumping action which flexes and unfolds the clothes during washing. This theory of a rapid pumping action is supported by the fact that numerous small geysers or jets of water appear at the upper surface of clothes and water during the washing.

The amplitude of vertical rocking movement of -the receptacle A during the washing operation is determined by the inclination of the axis a, and the diameter of the receptacle and the speed of rotation of the shaft 28 should be such that points in the receptacle bottom shouldv move from their uppermost to their lowermost position in a time interval considerably shorter than that required for the clothes and washing fluid to fall the same distance by gravity so that at every instant a substantial portion of the bottom of the receptacle may be out of contact with the clothes and liquid and portions of the bottom throughout the circumference slap against the body of liquid and clothes during each oscillation. In the machine above referred tc, points ln the outer portion of the receptacle bottom have a vertical movement of about 11A" and the movement of such points from the uppermost to the lowermost position takes about one twentieth of a. second when the shaft 28 is driven at 600 R. P. M. Since the fall of the clothes and water by gravity in the period of one twentieth of a second is less than one half inch, every part of the outer portion of the receptacle bottom may move into and out of contact with the body of clothes and washing uid during each revolution of the shaft 28. In a. machine such as herein illustrated the speed of rotation of the drive shaft should be at least 500 R. P. M. and is preferably 600 R. I. M. or higher.

The pulsating action on body of clothes and washing fluid effects a redistribution of the clothes in such manner that the load is evenly balanced throughout the washing operation and eccentric loading unfavorable to efficient extracting action is avoided.

When the brake 18 is released to start the extracting operation the spinning movement exerts a centrifugal force on the clothes tending to move them out to the periphery of the receptacle and ythis outwardly acting force together with the oscillating movements due to the lag of the re- :eptacle A with respect to the drive shaft 28 causes the clothes to quickly move outwardly and upwardly to form a substantially uniform vertical layer of clothes against the interior of the peripheral wall.

The holes in the lower part of the container are of a size and number so related to the rate of delivery by the pump 98 to the receptacle that draining of the liquid is retarded sufficiently to maintain enough liquid in the receptacle to lubricate the clothes and permit the free flexing thereof, and the rolling and progressing movements above referred to. However, the liquid drains 'reely enough to avoid the retention of an excess if liquid in the receptacle.

Where, as herein illustrated, a machine of the present invention is mounted upon four supporting legs, a slight unevenness in a floor surface may cause the weight of the machine to be imposed upon three of the legs -while the fourth leg is out of contact with the floor. With the machine so supported, a very slight force is required to rock the frame about two of its supports and impart slight vertical movements to the other two supports. Vibrations in the frame may thus cause vertical movements of opposite corners of the frame that will create noise and tend to cause the machine to creep on the floor surface. To eliminate vibration of the supports one of the screw feet I0 may be replaced with a self adjusting vibration damping foot member |30 such as shown in Fig. l1. The foot member |30 is in the form of a vertical rod which is slidable in the lower head |3| of a cylinder |32. The head |3| has a reduced extension |33 that passes through the leg 8 and has a threaded lower end to receive a nut |34 that clamps the head and the cylinder to the leg 8. The upper end of the cylinder |32 is closed by a cup shaped head |35, and the foot member |30 is pressed against the floor by a coil spring |36 that is interposed between a disk |31 engaging the lower end of the cup shaped head |35 and a piston |38 attached to the upper end of the foot member |30. The cylinder |32 is partially lled with liquid and a packing ring |39 in the head |3| held in place by a gland |40 prevents leakage of duid through the lower head. The disk |31 and the piston |38 are provided with small bleeder openings |4| and |42 and the liquid. fills the cylinder to above the level of the disk |31. The spring |36 acts to maintain a downward pressure upon the foot piece |30 so that a substantial portion of the weight of the machine is always imposed thereon. Vertical movements of the foot piece |30 are impeded by the body of liquid due to the retardation of flow through the bleeder opening |4| into the space below the piston and through the opening |42 into the chamber above the disk |31. This retarding of the movement of the foot piece |30 serves to damp vibrations transmitted through the frame and eliminates the v ibratory tapping of supporting members on the iioor surface.

It is to be understood that variations and modications of the specific device herein shown and described for purposes of illustration, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

In a washing machine, a washing receptacle having means therein to wash the clothes, and being apertured to facilitate the removal of water from the receptacle during washing, a tub beneath the receptacle to collect water removed therefrom during Washing, means to control the introduction of fresh water supply for washing purposes and recirculate the said supply during the washing operation, comprising; a fresh water supply conduit for delivering water to said machine, a first valve in said supply conduit, a normally open solenoid valve in said conduit, a pump to withdraw water from said tub, a conduit leading from said pump and terminating above said receptacle so as to discharge wash water Withdrawn from the tub into said receptacle during the washing operation, a fluid pressure responsive element in said conduit adjacent the discharge end thereof and above the bottom of said receptacle, and means operatively connecting said element and said solenoid to close said solenoidvalve in response to pressure in said conduit whereby the recirculation during washing is efiective to prevent the introduction of additional fresh water supply.

JAMES B. KIRBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,891,842 Schmid Dec. 20, 1932 1,995,318 Merrill Mar.- 26, 1935 2,033,146 Motycka Mar. 10, 1936 2,304,454 Gudmundsen Dec. 8, 1942 2,341,894 Barif Feb. 15, 1944 2,344,982 Dyer Mar. 22B, 1944 

